Overview
Split Pane mode divides the editor into two independent panes:
- Left pane: Primary editor, receives binder clicks
- Right pane: Reference pane, populated via context menu
Each pane has its own:
- Section content
- Word count
- Save status
- Version history access
Opening Split View
From the Menu
Go to View > Toggle Split Editor or press *Cmd/Ctrl+\*
From Context Menu
- Right-click a section in the binder
- Select Open in Split View
- The section opens in the right pane
Opening in the Other Pane
When already in split mode:
1. Right-click a different section
2. Select Open in Other Pane
3. The inactive pane's content is replaced
Working with Panes
Active Pane
Click inside a pane to make it active. The active pane:
- Has a subtle visual indicator
- Receives keyboard input
- Is targeted by Find operations
- Shows in the Inspector
Binder Clicks
Clicking a section in the binder always loads it in the left pane. Use the context menu to load sections in the right pane.
Smart Behavior
If you click a section that's currently in the right pane:
- Split mode closes automatically
- That section appears in the single editor
This prevents the same section from appearing in both panes.
Resizing Panes
Drag the splitter bar between panes to adjust their widths:
- Hover over the divider until you see the resize cursor
- Drag left or right
- Release to set the new width
The split position is remembered for your next session.
Keyboard Shortcuts
| Action | Shortcut |
|---|---|
| Toggle split mode | Cmd/Ctrl+\ |
| Close split pane | Cmd/Ctrl+Shift+W |
| Focus left pane | Cmd/Ctrl+Alt+Left |
| Focus right pane | Cmd/Ctrl+Alt+Right |
Use Cases
Reference While Writing
Open your outline or notes in one pane while writing in the other:
1. Open your main section in the left pane
2. Right-click your outline section, choose Open in Split View
3. Write while referencing
Compare Versions
Compare two related sections:
1. Open the original in one pane
2. Open the revision in the other
3. Review differences side-by-side
Character Reference
Keep a character profile visible while writing their scenes:
1. Write the scene in the left pane
2. Open character notes in the right pane
Continuity Checking
Review the previous scene while writing the current one:
1. Open the current scene in the left pane
2. Open the previous scene in the right pane
3. Ensure continuity between them
Pane Independence
Each pane operates independently:
- Editing: Changes in one pane don't affect the other
- Saving: Each section auto-saves separately
- Undo: Each pane has its own undo history
- Word count: Shows count for that pane's section
Closing Split Mode
Close the Split
- Press *Cmd/Ctrl+\* to toggle off
- Or press Cmd/Ctrl+Shift+W to close the right pane
- Or go to View > Toggle Split Editor
When closing:
- The left pane's section remains open
- The right pane closes
- You return to single-editor view
Compatibility
With Verkado Mode
Split Pane and Verkado (multi-section) modes are mutually exclusive:
- Entering one exits the other
- Choose based on your current task
Use Verkado for editing multiple sections as continuous text.
Use Split Pane for referencing one section while editing another.
With Composition Mode
Entering Composition mode exits Split Pane mode automatically.
With Find
Find and Replace operates on the active pane only. Click in a pane to make it active before searching.
Session Persistence
Split state persists between sessions:
- Split mode on/off is remembered
- Split position is remembered
- The sections in each pane are restored
Tips
- Use left for writing, right for reference - keeps binder behavior predictable
- Keyboard navigation is faster than mouse for switching panes
- Close split when you need full width for long paragraphs
- Different books - you can open sections from different books in each pane
- Resize for balance - give more space to whichever pane needs it